Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-01-13
CARE OF LAMPS.
Ous OF the Necessary Morning Duties o
the Careful Hnusekaerar.


Ous OF the Necessary Morning Duties of
the Careful Housekeener.
The regular trimming of lamps is ono
of the necessary morning duties, and
appropriately follows the bedroom
work, although it 'ean be done during
any ten vacant minutes there may be
before going upstairs. The dovetailing
of work. to make one task 1T in with
another so that there are no lost min
utes. is the secret of accomplishing very
much in short time. If you have no
regular lamp scissors (Which cost very
little), save your others, and also save
the bits of carbonized wick from drop
ping about, by deyoting an old pair TO
the purpose.
In trimming the wick cut off as little
OF the charred part :as possible; gen
orally it is sufficient just to clip off any
inequality of the burned surface. Some
people do not cut the wick at all, but
simply wipe it off with paper. but the
edge sometimes remains ragged after
this; then the scissors may be used with
advantage to make it even; If the flame
is not even, YOU may be sure there Is
some tiny point on the wick; see that
the corners are very slightly rounded
off, to prevent points of flame. If they
are cut off too much, however, the flame
will be too narrow, and the light not so
good as the size of the wick will allow.
Every drop of oil must be wiped from
the burner, and nothing answers for
this purpose better than newspaper,
which can be Immediately burned If
a cloth is used, it must either be washed
out Immediately, or it will cause the
place in which it is kept, and every
thing near it, to smell of Kerosene.
When you are sure the lamp and
burner are quite free from oil, polish
the chimney. The common Dubious
chimney is best cleaned, when only
dim, with soft newspaper; if smoked
and fy-spotted, wash it in soapy hot
water, rinse it in clear, hot water and
wipe it dry. Do not be satisfied TO
place a chimney that is, not brightly
polished on a lamp; like q well black
ened stove, a clean lamp gives an air of
cleanliness and cheesfalness to the
plainest room, while u handsome one
in which the odOr of kerosene is per-
ceptible and smOke-dirnmed chimney
visible, will seem nes1eeted and de-
pressing t
For tine cylinder chiInney, which is
the most difficult to clean, have found
nothing 80 good, after trying all sorts
of cOntrivances. as the bI1RsSl with wire
handle. sold for the purpose. With
daily use sf this, the chin4ney seldom
needs. washing and is always bright.
The brush must be used dry; hold the
chimney in your left hand with a dus-
ter or newspaper to prevent your touch
from dimnang it; then with the right
hand push the brush sharply up and
down; polish the outside with paper;
less than q Ininute's work each day will
keep the chInney in perfect ea7ier.
Once in a. while wash the ssush and
dry it Thoroughly. The burners of all
lamps requEBe washing in soap and
hot water once q week.
When lamps cease 10 ssive q good
light many people throw shem away
and get new There is usually nothing
the matter except that the perfOrations
are choked with carbon and dAst. Boil
them for half an hour in an old SAUCE
pan i'll whicihyou have q good teaspoon
full of washing soda to each quart of
water; rinse. aaem md set them to dry.
This will generally remedy the difficult
ty.-GO0d housekeeping.